fanfare, classic prog-rock, part one, remastered clip of 4-song suite

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(SWAMPFIRE) copyright 1991 Bruce Henninger
It started with a dream.
Actually, it all began way before the dream, years before, in the
mind of a man the dreamer had never met. You would probably know the
place he made, but I can't name names (copyright laws can be such
messy affairs). Suffice it to say that our dreamer dreamed himself
into his own version of this place, drawn by the comical, friendly
innocence and simplicity of the inhabitants of this land.
A nice place to visit, but…As the dreamer quickly discovers, there
is an unwritten law against leaving this land - which might not have
presented any problem, were it not for the fact that unheard wears
the appearance of one of these mythical folk, and none of them have
guessed that he is actually a stranger among them.
Time for a modicum of subterfuge…the dreamer conspires with himself
to play the part thrust upon him, while at the same time laying
plans for a quiet, unnoticed getaway, so as not to disrupt the
harmony of this dreamland. But as they say (who are they?), the best
laid plans may burn your bridges in a pig's eye … his scheming is
discovered, and the dreamer must fell toward the edge of
consciousness, seeking to wake up before all hell breaks loose.
Some of the town's most prominent citizen's pursue this new fiend
that has shown itself to be in their midst; perhaps they're not
quite sure of what they are doing -
-and then the dreamer wakes up. But the dream, now tainted with
reality, continues…
The dream creatures have chased him to the end of a swampy lake: the
line between dream and
reality. Trapped, the half-awake dreamer supplies his dream self
with a gun …and the dream-folk
grind to a halt in disbelief, for they recognize that this
particular weapon, forged by a partly wakeful
mind, is thoroughly capable of killing them - a jarring realization
for the beings who would otherwise
immortal, to whom death is unknown, talked about but never
experienced, for how can dreams die?
The dreamer, who was basically a pretty all-around decent type of
fellow at he start of all this,
Implores them to understand that he doesn't belong there, that he
doesn't want to hurt anyone
But must be allowed to leave. The dream-folk can do nothing to stop
him at this point; the power
Of the impending reality is too strong. A boat has appeared at the
shore, a simple wooden rowboat.
The dreamer steps into it and pushes off, and still the dream
creatures are reluctant to let him leave,
for they know that when he finds wakefulness, he will cease to
exist. Sure enough, as the boat moves
far offshore, an enormous face rises from the water to confront the
dreamer: it is the face of the real
person that he is. Face and dreamer both vanish. The dream-folk turn
and head back for home;
They can't say they didn't try…

SWAMPFIRE
Copyright 1991 Bruce Henninger

Wake up in a dreamland, a bustling swampland mall
A cozy place that feels like home and yet there’s something wrong
A place of our imaginings, that beckons us inside
To share in life’s simplicity , and leave reality
Outside

So many friendly creatures, surrounding me right now
I know I don’t belong here but they will not let me out
So I will play the innocent and take on a disguise
And take my place in line to fool
The friendly watchful eyes

But my premature discovery raises rancor
By even the most gentle, reason fled
No time to waste in final desperation
Make an escape and the flying weights
Hit the LIZARD on the head

Where does the dreamer end
Where does the dream begin?
Where does the substance fade and the
Myth come rushing in?
We are all just aspects of the things that we create
Profane and sacred, good and evil
In the depths of love and hate.

Pursued to the waters edge, I draw my gun
They stop and gasp for such a thing is never done
I tell them that I meant no harm to any one, and that they must let me leave

They stand and watch helpless as I
Step into the boat
Cast of from their peaceful shore
A wayward soul afloat

Far from shore in another song
Where my dreamland starts to fade
The creatures watch me vanish, then
Turn and walk away…